Molded SUNSTOVES

Our goal is to expand the use of SUNSTOVES® in those areas that can be supplied by the current producers, from South Africa and India to their neighboring countries. This allows the expansion of the program without the additional cost of tooling, another manufacturing facility and high cost of ocean transportation. If overseas countries want to manufacture the SUNSTOVE® we recommend that they purchase units from India or Africa to develop market acceptance and then copy it. We will supply drawings and material specifications to non-profit organizations and assist them in solving problems.

Sponsoring Groups (Governments, Rotary Clubs, Distributors, Religious Organizations, etc.) are needed supply the “seed money” for the initial inventory and to locate individual entrepreneurs or distributors who would promote, train and market the SUNSTOVE® for a reasonable profit. Start-up requires a small inventory (10) of SUNSTOVES® plus an initial incentive for the entrepreneurs to start demonstrating, training and selling the unit.

Government support and cooperation are essential. Local taxes or tariffs, which can destroy this type of project, must be eliminated. Low cost metal pots should be purchased in quantity and supplied to the field. Pots are also a source of income for the entrepreneurs.

All the World Charities combined do not have enough money and time to give away the products, train the entrepreneurs who will market them, and distribute the millions of solar cookers needed. Seed money is required but once a program is started it becomes self-supporting and self-generating.

The SUNSTOVE®, a high quality solar cooker, is aesthetic, user- friendly, affordable and rugged. It cooks for 6 persons, i.e., 4 to 5 liters of corn-meal or rice with 1 to 2 liters of vegetables or meat. For over seven years it has been mass produced in lots of 1,000 at a cost of $20.00 per piece in South Africa. In 1999 the Calcutta Rotary Clubs with a “Rotary International” matching grant purchased a mold and started to manufacture a Indian design.

The unique and important features of the SUNSTOVE® are as follows:

1. Eliminates expensive external reflectors which blow away in the wind, do not reflect when dull or dirty and require constant adjustment or focusing to collect the solar energy.

2. The sloped, internal walls and the black bottom of the SUNSTOVE® are comprised of a single piece of scrap aluminum. (An off-set, lithograph, printing plate, $0.50/lb. which normally can be purchased locally.) The reflector sides, whether soiled, dull or painted black, will reflect, radiate and conduct the sun’s energy to the black cooking pots!

3. Point the SUNSTOVE® south (or north in the southern hemisphere) toward the position of the sun at noon and it will cook all day. The aluminum bottom is painted black to absorb the solar energy and prevent the sun’s rays from being reflected out of the cooker.

4. The large aperture (window) of the SUNSTOVE® partially compensates for the elimination of external reflectors. The temperature of the food will exceed the cooking temperature of 172 F. The water used in cooking acts as a heat sink and limits the food temperature to 212F (100C). Temperature of the pot cover can exceed 300F (148C).

5. The side walls are insulated with fiberglass blanket and the bottom with high density fiberglass to support the pots of food. Cotton, wood, mineral wool, jute, hemp, etc. can be used but the aluminum bottom may require support to maintain the insulation thickness.

6. The low-cost case or housing of the SUNSTOVE® is blow-molded from 75% reground plastic bottles and 25% of virgin material. It can also be injected, vacuum or rotary molded (cost will determine production method). The case has been fabricated from steel, aluminum, wood, cardboard, etc. However, the blow-mold case in Africa costs less than a cardboard box ($6.00). A black plastic case is strong, light, UV resistant, weather proof and the aluminum sheet (walls and bottom) snaps into place over the insulation.

7. The clear cover can be plastic sheet, framed plastic film or glass. In India and Africa “medium impact acrylic” was chosen because of its low cost, availability and strength.

8. The SUNSTOVE® is light weight (8 pounds), can be carried by one person, hung inside the home and shipped economically.

9. The sloped sides not only increase the size of the solar collection window and reflect the sun to the pots but also allows the units to be stacked (nested together) for shipping. Ten will fit on the back seat of a car, 50 in a small van, and 600 in a 20 foot container. In South Africa, two can be nested for shipment via parcel post.

10. The SUNSTOVE® is a quality solar cooker with long life which should be sold at cost. This makes the project self-supporting. A give-away unit has zero value. Time payment programs ($2.00 per month in local currency) have been successful in South Africa.

11. To insure availability and low cost, black, enameled steel pots or anodized aluminum pots should be available with the stove. High cost, high temperature plastic bags are not required. (Also these plastic bags are normally not available in rural stores.)